Law Firm Morgan Drops 'Steamboat Willie' Suit Against Disney
Law firm Morgan Global has dropped its lawsuit against Disney seeking a declaration by the court that the firm's ad using an adaptation of the Steamboat Willie animated short doesn't violate any Disney trademark or intellectual property rights. Morgan Global filed a notice of voluntary dismissal (docket 6:25-cv-01795) Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Morgan Global said in its notice that Disney hadn't yet been served with the suit.
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In the complaint, filed in September, the law firm said it had contacted Disney about the ad, seeking confirmation that it wouldn't allege any copyright or trademark violations, and Disney's response was "vague." The 1928 Steamboat Willie animated short was the first appearance of Mickey Mouse. Disney's copyright on it expired in 2024.